Burlington, Ont. – Oct. 20, 2021— The City of Burlington continues to make sure land-use development is well managed, as outlined in Council’s Vision to Focus 2018-2020 strategic workplan. The Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) Land Use Study, which froze development for one year in Downtown Burlington and at the Burlington GO station, is an important action to meet these goals.
On Oct. 15, 2021, the Ontario Lands Tribunal (OLT) granted a motion brought by the City regarding the Interim Control Bylaw’s continued application to the City’s downtown and lands around the Burlington GO station. The motion sought to lift the freeze on all lands subject to the Interim Control Bylaw with the exception of lands impacted by Zoning By-law Amendment 2020.418, which are located around the Burlington GO station. At the hearing, the OLT provided an oral decision granting the motion, to be followed by a written decision.
This will allow development in Downtown Burlington in compliance with zoning that was in effect before the ICBL and the City will be able to issue building permits in this area. Community Planning staff will also be able to bring forward recommendations for Council decisions with respect to Planning Act applications.
ICBL History
On Jan. 30, 2020, Council approved the revised recommendations from the findings of the Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) Land Use Study, including the approval of the proposed Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments resulting from the ICBL Land Use Study.
The City received 31appeals to Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) for both the Official Plan Amendment 119 and Zoning By-law Amendment 2020.418 which were filed with the City Clerk. Because of these appeals under the Planning Act, the ICBL remained in effect and did not end on March 5, 2020.
Since that time, LPAT, now the Ontario Lands Tribunal (OLT), considered and granted a number of motions to find that the Zoning Bylaw Amendment does not apply to those sites and lifted the ICBL “freeze”.
For more information, subscribe to the ICBL webpage.
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Quotes
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“We paused development through an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) so we could consider what the right amount of growth is for the Downtown and around the Burlington GO station. That work is now complete. The result of that work supported our successful request to adjust the boundaries of the Urban Growth Centre (UGC) to the Burlington GO station. These efforts will focus growth around the GO station and ensure our city has the right developments in the right place at the right scale.”
Heather MacDonald, Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility
“Given the nature of the appeals related to the ICBL currently before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), it was the right time to file a motion to end the downtown freeze. This will allow development to proceed that is in conformity with the existing zoning and it will also allow Council to consider recommendations and make decisions on applications for development in the downtown. The ICBL is still in effect on the lands adjacent to Burlington GO. Planning work is underway on the Burlington GO Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) and public input to this work is encouraged.”
Quick Facts
Links and Resources
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Updated map of the Interim Control Bylaw area attached
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Communications contact
Carla Marshall
Communications Advisor
carla.marshall@burlington.ca